Chippewa fans rock O'Kelly's as Eric Fisher picked No. 1

By
Randi Shaffer, The Morning Sun

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Clad in maroon and gold, crowds of Central Michigan University fans cheered loudly from O’Kelly’s Thursday night as Eric Fisher was selected as the Kansas City Chiefs’ No. 1 overall pick in the National Football League Draft.

Loud chants of “Er-ic, Fish-er! Er-ic Fish-er!” echoed off the bar’s walls, and fans joyously yelled each time Fisher appeared on ESPN.

“I can’t even process what’s happening right now, this is a dream come true,” Fisher said. “The fact that I was a No. 1 pick, I can’t even understand what’s going on right now,” Fisher said.

Clad in a Chiefs hat holding a red jersey, Fisher smiled as ESPN rolled highlights of Fisher’s career at CMU.

Fisher, a 2009 graduate of Stoney Creek High School and senior at CMU, is a 6-foot-8, 306 pound offensive tackle for the CMU Chippewas.

“He’s the highest ever drafted player in the history of the Mid American Conference,” CMU Athletic Director Dave Heeke said. “There’s never been anyone higher.”

The draft, held at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, began at 8 p.m.

Though miles away, fans all celebrated the draft pick.

“I think it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to CMU,” Randy Look said. “It’s going to be awesome. It’ll bring more ... prospects to Central Michigan and be a wonderful addition to the football team.”

Look, a 1980 graduate of CMU, said he has been a CMU fan since 1976, and has attended most of the football games since then.

Look said he might start cheering for the Chiefs a little more now.

Heeke said Fisher’s draft reflects well on CMU.

While Heeke said it was uncertain what number Fisher was going to be selected during the first round, it was clear that Fisher would be a first round pick.

“To be No. 1 overall is just an incredible accomplishment for Eric,” Heeke said. “We’re very proud of him and what he represents, and how he represents this university.”

Fisher is the second Chippewa to go in the first round of the NFL draft, following Joe Staley who, in 2007, went to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 28.

“It’s an exciting day for Central Michigan certainly for our football program and for the whole mid-Michigan community,” Heeke said.

Randi Shaffer can be reached at 989-779-6059, rshaffer@michigannewspapers.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/randi.shaffer